hot guy who cooks? I’m sold :)
A Kool-Aid Man smile forms on my face. She called me hot. Of course I know what most women think about me. I’m not stupid. Owning a gym, being a UFC fighter, and being in many tournaments, there are a ton of women around. I’ve always chosen to keep my distance because of Sylvia, but I’ve heard things and have had women throw their panties at me during matches. Carissa has been the first woman from the crowd I’ve tried to pursue.
Me: For you, I’d cook anything.
What the hell was that? Quickly trying to redeem myself, I compose another text.
Me: Your ex didn’t cook?
Carissa: Steve? LOL no way. I had to wait on him hand and foot. He did nothing.
Me: :( that’s crazy. I’m sorry.
Carissa: It’s okay. It’s not important now. What are you going to make for me?
Mmm, a nice dessert and load you up with whip cream…
Okay, what? My mind is in the gutter, but I’m choosing to blame her and her bubble bath images she forced me to think of.
Okay, maybe she didn’t force me, but come on. The mention of it coming from her? How could I not?
Me: Do you like Italian?
Carissa: I LOVE Italian.
Nice. Then she’ll adore me.
Jesus with the cheesiness. I need to cool off. I better hit the shower.
I decide to send her one last text for the night, because at this point, I’m going to be having a date with my hand within the next five minutes.
Me: Cool. I’ll send you my address.
I type it to her, wish her a good-night, and hop off the couch.
This woman is going to be trouble for me… I can feel it.
Chapter Fifteen
Lorenzo
“Is Auntie Mari going to get here soon? I want to go to Nonna’s,” Gianna whines, sitting patiently—or rather impatiently—for my sister to pick her up. She’s twirling her hair around her finger.
The smell of dinner brewing in the oven fills the house. I’m hungry and can’t wait to eat.
Marianna is running thirty minutes late. She got held up at work. I offered to drop Gianna off at my mother’s house, but she insisted on waiting for her Auntie Mari. Apparently, she likes riding in her car better. Guess Daddy’s truck is just not as cool as Auntie Mari’s Audi.
It’s Monday, four days before Christmas. Gianna is off from school for the next two weeks or so, and she’s going to be spending the first couple of days at my mom’s house. Typically, on Christmas Eve we go to my mom’s house for dinner and open gifts at midnight. Since Gianna is little and doesn’t make it till midnight no matter how hard she tries, we usually let her open a bunch right after dinner. We spend the night so we have brunch the following morning, and Gianna opens the gifts from Santa then.
This year, she will already be there. I’m just going to meet her there when I go on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Thursday this year.
I flick my wrist and check the time on my watch. “She should be here any minute, baby girl.”
As those words leave my mouth, the doorbell rings. Gianna and I exchange looks. She’s smiling widely at me.
“See, there’s your auntie right there. Go grab your teddy and backpack.”
“Yay!” Gianna leaps off the couch and heads into her room to grab her bag and teddy bear. She never leaves to spend the night without that thing. She’s had it since she was a baby and sleeps with it every single night. She gives the phrase “attached at the hip” new meaning.
I walk to the door and open it. To my surprise, it’s not Marianna.
Carissa stands in front of me wearing a dazzling smile, and my God, does she look breathtaking in her tight red dress… She’s wearing a sparkling red lipstick that matches her dress, making her lips look even better than they typically do. Luscious Lips…
“Carissa, hi.” I smile, genuinely delighted to see her, but I totally forgot she was going to be here so soon. I stand in between the door and its frame, leaving it barely cracked. Shit, where’s Marianna? She was supposed to have picked up Gianna by now.
“Hi. I hope I’m not too early. I wanted to beat traffic, so I left a little bit earlier than I was intending to.”
“No, no. You’re fine,” I respond, still captivated by the way she looks. Damn…
Her smile starts to fade, and a confused expression graces her face.